Carbon Emissions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proposals for capture of carbon dioxide emissions the Government has approved in each of the last five years; what recent assessment he has made of the commercial viability of carbon capture technology; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 2 February 2009
	The Government fund projects on C02 capture via the DIUS funded Research Council's Energy Programme and the Technology Strategy Board. In addition, DECC provides support via the Environmental Transformation Programme.
	The Research Councils support wide-ranging underpinning research and training in carbon capture and storage (CCS) through the Research Councils' Energy Programme and through their individual programmes. In the last five years 25 projects covering CCS totalling over £23 million have been funded, of which around 18 include C02 capture technologies. In addition CCS research is carried out at institutes and centres supported by the Research Councils, in particular NERC's British Geological Survey and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Fundamental research is also supported by the councils which may feed in over the longer term to CCS technologies.
	The TSB has identified carbon abatement technologies as a priority for funding and currently supports 11 projects with grant funding of £6.4 million, of which eight projects are specifically on capture technologies.
	DECC's ETF supports one oxy-fuel combustion project under the Carbon Abatement Technologies demonstration programme with grant funding of £2.2 million.
	There are three options for capturing carbon dioxide emissions; post-combustion, pre-combustion and oxy-fuel combustion. The Government have not undertaken a comparative assessment of the commercial viability of these options, although other organisations such McKinsey and Company have done some analysis
	http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/ccsi/pdf/CCS_Assessing_the_Economics.pdf.
	The Government support the demonstration of all these technology options globally to meet our objective for carbon capture and storage technology to become commercially viable by 2020.

Energy: Prices

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make arrangements for steel manufacturers to have access to energy supplies at sub-market prices.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has no plans to make arrangements for steel manufacturers to have access to energy supplies at sub-market prices.
	The UK has a an energy market, regulated by Ofgem, who aim to ensure consumers benefit from energy prices set in a competitive market.

Care Homes: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of care homes did not meet each of the National Minimum Standards for care homes in the year ended 31 March 2008.

Phil Hope: I am informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that its inspectors assess the performance of care homes against each national minimum standard (NMS) and rate them on a four-point scale. A score of 4 indicates that a standard has been exceeded. A score of 3 shows that it has been met. A score of 2 denotes that the standard has not been met with minor shortfalls—this indicates that one of the numerous subsections in the standard has not been completely met. A score of 1 means the standard has not been met.
	The following tables show the scores of care homes against the NMS for care homes for younger adults and older people, broken down by number and percentage, for the year ending 31 March 2008.
	
		
			  Scores against NMS for care homes for younger adults as at 31 March 2008( 1) 
			   Score1  Standard not met  Score-2  Standard not met with minor shortfalls  Score-3  Standard met  Score-4  Standard exceeded 
			  NMS heading  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Information 123 2 1,403 20 5,125 73 349 5 
			 Needs assessment 73 1 567 8 6,175 83 668 9 
			 Meeting needs 139 2 599 9 5,487 84 297 5 
			 Introductory visits 35 1 200 3 5,985 91 359 5 
			 Contract 195 3 1,161 17 5,148 78 131 2 
			 Service user plan 162 2 1,716 23 4,567 61 1,074 14 
			 Decision making 57 1 614 8 5,939 79 907 12 
			 Participation 55 1 533 8 5,436 83 505 8 
			 Risk taking 116 2 1,160 15 5,561 74 677 9 
			 Confidentiality 53 1 507 8 5,633 90 96 2 
			 Personal development 62 1 420 6 5,337 82 682 10 
			 Education and occupation 40 1 567 8 5,670 75 1,234 16 
			 Community links and social inclusion 45 1 491 7 5,915 79 1,064 14 
			 Leisure 72 1 676 10 5,145 75 948 14 
			 Relationships 4 0 158 2 6,560 87 782 10 
			 Daily routines 38 1 382 5 6,186 82 895 12 
			 Meals and mealtimes 43 1 564 8 6,167 82 733 10 
			 Personal support 43 1 451 6 6,155 82 868 12 
			 Healthcare 55 1 711 9 5,898 78 856 11 
			 Medication 160 2 1,865 25 5,193 69 299 4 
			 Ageing and death 76 1 686 12 4,901 83 259 4 
			 Concerns and complaints 31 0 701 9 6,427 85 367 5 
			 Protection 146 2 1,229 16 5,839 78 312 4 
			 Premises 207 3 1,947 26 4,714 63 669 9 
			 Space requirements 55 1 456 7 5,748 87 381 6 
			 Furniture and fittings 84 1 878 13 5,355 80 336 5 
			 Toilets and bathrooms 170 3 1,072 16 5,123 77 266 4 
			 Shared space 74 1 733 11 5,469 83 338 5 
			 Adaptations and equipment 92 1 616 10 5,255 85 189 3 
			 Hygeine and control of infection 68 1 841 11 6,161 82 462 6 
			 Roles 78 1 459 7 5,621 90 120 2 
			 Qualities and qualifications 79 1 1,109 15 5,486 73 796 11 
			 Staff team 228 3 1,373 20 4,951 72 289 4 
			 Recruitment 257 3 1,288 17 5,567 75 340 5 
			 Training and development 130 2 1,470 20 5,239 70 624 8 
			 Supervision and support 179 3 1,211 18 5,046 75 312 5 
			 Day to day operations 152 2 1,273 17 5,231 70 863 11 
			 Ethos 109 2 434 7 5,176 81 679 11 
			 Quality assurance 177 2 1,657 22 5,061 67 603 8 
			 Policies and procedures 106 2 1,193 19 4,891 78 87 1 
			 Record keeping 223 3 1,629 26 4,423 69 103 2 
			 Safe working practices 182 2 1,843 25 5,185 69 302 4 
			 Conduct of the service 182 3 964 16 4,783 80 70 1 
			 (1) Data shown is for care homes which were active at 31 March 2008 and had been inspected against the NMS for care homes for younger adults at some point prior.  Note: Percentage scores are rounded to the nearest whole percentage point.  Source: CSCI database. 
		
	
	
		
			  Scores against NMS for care homes for older people as at 31 March 2008( 1) 
			   Score-1  Standard not met  Score-2  Standard not met with minor shortfalls  Score-3  Standard met  Score-4  Standard exceeded 
			  NMS heading  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Information 198 2 1,778 18 7,362 76 380 4 
			 Contract 136 1 1,269 14 7,720 84 115 1 
			 Needs assessment 138 1 1,079 10 8,466 82 670 6 
			 Meeting needs 257 3 1,171 13 7,230 80 336 4 
			 Trial visits 18 0 218 2 8,503 95 211 2 
			 Intermediate care 80 4 157 7 1,798 84 101 5 
			 Service user plan 367 4 3,541 34 5,691 55 782 8 
			 Healthcare 186 2 1,551 15 7,760 75 882 8 
			 Medication 415 4 3,044 29 6,665 64 250 2 
			 Privacy and dignity 87 1 860 8 8,566 83 854 8 
			 Dying and death 64 1 867 10 7,214 84 481 6 
			 Social contact and activities 178 2 2,194 21 6,452 62 1,557 15 
			 Community contact 6 0 246 2 9,157 88 962 9 
			 Autonomy and choice 55 1 808 8 8,692 84 813 8 
			 Meals and mealtimes 83 1 1,205 12 7,718 74 1,371 13 
			 Complaints 89 1 920 9 8,983 87 390 4 
			 Rights 34 0 273 3 7,975 96 49 1 
			 Protection 203 2 1,597 15 8,316 80 264 3 
			 Premises 264 3 2,532 24 6,530 63 1,057 10 
			 Shared facilities 106 1 1,051 11 7,421 81 601 7 
			 Lavatories and washing facilities 242 3 1,695 19 6,866 75 359 4 
			 Adaptations and equipment 212 2 1,703 19 6,910 76 232 3 
			 Space requirements 54 1 604 7 7,839 88 403 5 
			 Furniture and fittings 133 1 1,659 18 7,010 75 493 5 
			 Heating and lighting 305 3 1,917 21 6,679 73 255 3 
			 Hygiene and infection control 169 2 1,694 16 7,693 74 822 8 
			 Staff complement 273 3 1,636 16 7,950 77 519 5 
			 Qualifications 100 1 1,510 15 7,456 72 1,236 12 
			 Recruitment 473 5 2,064 20 7,478 72 350 3 
			 Staff training 249 2 2,197 21 7,087 68 835 8 
			 Day to day operations 284 3 1,663 16 7,176 69 1,249 12 
			 Ethos 199 2 842 9 6,959 78 945 11 
			 Quality assurance 287 3 2,193 21 7,017 68 858 8 
			 Financial procedures 172 2 769 9 7,108 88 63 1 
			 Service user money 70 1 649 6 9,255 91 192 2 
			 Staff supervision 443 5 2,494 26 6,345 67 192 2 
			 Record keeping 440 5 2,559 29 5,789 65 116 1 
			 Safe working practices 386 4 2,703 26 6,878 66 415 4 
			 (1) Data shown is for care homes which were active at 31 March 2008 and had been inspected against the NMS for care homes for older people at some point prior.  Note: Percentage scores are rounded to the nearest whole percentage point.  Source: CSCI database.

Carers

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers in each county were  (a) offered and  (b) provided with an assessment of their needs in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.

Phil Hope: The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care collects and publishes information on the number of carers offered and receiving assessments or reviews from Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs). Data is not collected on a county basis.
	Data for assessments only are not collected centrally. A table which shows how many carers have been offered an assessment or review of their needs and how many carers, by CASSRs, have had an assessment of their needs from 2005-06 to 2007-08 has been placed in the Library.

Doctors: Foreign Workers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of (i) hospital doctors and (ii) general practitioners working in the NHS who were non-UK nationals in the latest year for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Nationality of national health service staff is not collected centrally. The following table shows the number and proportion of hospital doctors and general practitioners (GPs) by country of primary qualification.
	
		
			  General practitioners and hospital and community health services (HCHS): medical and dental staff by country of primary qualification, England at 30 Sept  ember 2007 
			  Number (headcount) and percentage 
			   All NHS doctors  HCHS medical and dental staff( 1)  General practitioners 
			 All Countries of Qualification 128,210 91,790 36,420 
			 All Countries of Qualification (excluding unknown staff) 123,802 87,850 35,952 
			 
			 Qualified in United Kingdom 82,957 54,978 27,979 
			 Percentage(2) 67 63 78 
			 
			 Qualified outside UK 40,845 32,872 7,973 
			 Percentage(2) 33 37 22 
			 
			 Unknown(3) 4,408 3,940 468 
			 (1) Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals. (2) This is a percentage of the total staff who's country of primary qualification is known. (3) All dental staff are shown as unknown within the table. Information about country of qualification is derived from the General Medical Council. For staff in dental specialties, with a General Dental Council registration, the country of qualification is therefore unknown.  Data Quality: Work force statistics are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens, any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is significant at national level, they will not be changed. Where there is impact only at detailed or local level, this will be footnoted in relevant analyses.  Sources: The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census. The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Health Services

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has  (a) taken steps to meet the and  (b) issued guidance to NHS trusts on meeting needs of adult patients who are in the (i) highest and (ii) lowest decile of body height; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department has not taken specific steps regarding patients who are in the highest or lowest decile of body height. On 30 June 2008, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lord Darzi) launched "High Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review final report", which makes clear that the NHS must meet the needs of all patients and to pay particular attention to groups or sections of society where improvements in health and life expectancy are not keeping pace with the rest of the population. A copy of the report has already been placed in the Library.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to improve services for young people who require  (a) mental health support,  (b) bereavement counselling and  (c) individual counselling in the North East;
	(2)  what the average waiting time for young people to obtain  (a) mental health support services,  (b) bereavement counselling and  (c) individual counselling services was in the North East in the latest period for which information is available.

Phil Hope: Data on average waiting times for young people to obtain mental health support services, bereavement counselling and individual counselling services in the North East are not collected centrally.
	Counselling is one of the modalities of psychological intervention approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for treating depression and anxiety disorders. Other NICE approved psychological therapies include guided self-help, computerised cognitive behavioural therapy, behavioural activation and exercise. The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Programme aims to help primary care trusts (PCTs) to implement NICE guidelines and improve access to psychological therapies in England for people with depression or anxiety disorders. This is supported by a significant national investment rising to £173 million by 2010-11. Its aim is to train 3,600 more therapists who will help to provide 900,000 more people with access to psychological therapies by 2010-11.
	In addition, 11 pathfinder PCTs are now examining the needs of specific groups, including children and young people, new mothers, older people, black and minority ethnic groups, offenders, people with long-term conditions and those with medically unexplained symptoms, and to see how access to a range of therapies for these groups could be further improved.
	For more general information on the Government's plans to improve services for young people who require mental health support, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 16 December 2008,  Official Report, column 683W, for details of the Government's response to the recently published independent Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Review.

Nurses: Training

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of student nurses are studying for a  (a) diploma and  (b) degree;
	(2)  what support is available to nursing students studying for a  (a) diploma and  (b) degree.

Ann Keen: The actual number of student nurses studying degree and diploma courses is not held centrally. However, the number of training posts commissioned each year by strategic health authorities in England in the financial years 2005-06 to 2007-08 are as follows:
	
		
			2005-06 Commissions  2006-07 Commissions  2007-08 Commissions 
			No.  Proportion  No.  Proportion  No.  Proportion 
			 Nursing Degree 3,238 0.16 4,006 0.19 4,062 0.21 
			  Diploma 17,076 0.84 17,193 0.81 15,290 0.79 
			  Source: Multi Professional Education and Training quarterly monitoring returns 
		
	
	Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria diploma level nursing students receive a non-means tested NHS bursary and degree level nursing students receive a means tested NHS bursary supplemented by a non means tested Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills student loan (approximately 50 per cent. of the full loan available to non-health care degree level students). Additional allowances are also available, subject to individual circumstances, for students with disabilities, others with dependants and to cover some childcare costs.
	University Access to Leaning Funds, administered via most higher education institutions may be available to nursing students who have taken up their full entitlement to a NHS bursary and (if applicable) a student loan and are in need of further financial support. The basic NHS bursary rates for new students in academic year 2008-09 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS bursary rates  2008-09  (£) 
			 Degree — 
			 London Up to 3,306 
			 Elsewhere Up to 2,739 
			 Parental Home Up to 2,287 
			 Diploma — 
			 London 7,629 
			 Elsewhere 6,531 
			 Parental Home 6,531 
		
	
	As part of the national health service (NHS) Next Stage Review the Department is undertaking a review of NHS student support to consider a wide range of options for student support, including addressing the anomaly under which nursing degree students receive different support than nursing diploma students. The review is being taken forward in partnership with key stakeholders including trades unions.
	In addition to the basic NHS bursary, the NHS meets both diploma and degree level nursing students' liability for a national tuition fee contribution of £7,273 in 2008-09.

India: Foreign Relations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his Indian counterpart.

Bill Rammell: There are currently no arrangements for my Right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to meet Foreign Minister Mukherjee. They do and will continue to maintain regular contact.

Pakistan: Marriage

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to assist British nationals who are in violent forced marriages in Pakistan.

Gillian Merron: Where it is known that a British national has already been forced into marriage, staff from our high commission in Islamabad will attempt to contact the individual to offer support. This can vary from a welfare visit, to assistance in returning to the UK. We work closely with both the central and local authorities in Pakistan in providing this assistance.
	The Forced Marriage Unit in London can also help to arrange accommodation for victims when they return to the UK and can refer victims to counselling and support groups, refuges, and legal centres.
	To help support victims of Forced Marriage, the Forced Marriage Civil Protection Act was introduced in November 2008. The Act allows the court the power to protect victims, who have already been forced into marriage and also to make protection orders to prevent forced marriages occurring. A number of protection orders have already been used since the act's introduction. A copy of the Act is available on the Office of Public Sector Information at:
	www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2007/ukpga_20070020_en_l
	The delay in responding was due to an administrative error.

Sri Lanka

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) meetings and  (b) other contacts he has had with groups representing the Tamil population of Sri Lanka in 2009.

Bill Rammell: On 27 January 2009, my Right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown met a group of over 100 representatives from Tamil communities in the UK to discuss the current situation in Sri Lanka. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly meet groups representing Tamils, most recently in early February 2009.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to decide on the participating countries in the Youth Mobility scheme; and whether any countries not currently participating are seeking to participate.

Phil Woolas: The Tier 5 Statement of Intent published in May 2008 (copies of which are available in the House Library), sets out the eligibility criteria for a
	country to join the Youth Mobility Scheme. As well as agreeing to be the sponsor of its participating nationals, each country needs to:
	  (a) have an acceptably low level of immigration risk, and not be subject to a mandatory UK visa regime;
	  (b) operate satisfactory returns arrangements with the UK; and
	  (c) provide reciprocal opportunities for young UK nationals.
	Expressions of interest from countries to join the new Youth Mobility Scheme are confidential to the UK Government and the countries concerned. Discussions need to remain confidential in order for countries to feel able to explore their possible involvement and make any appropriate adjustments to fulfil all the criteria for inclusion in the scheme before any public statements about their involvement are made.

Non-Profit Making Associations

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts have been awarded by her Department to social enterprises in each of the last three years.

Sadiq Khan: Changes to the Departments finance system have only allowed the identification of social enterprises since September 2007. Since then three companies have been identified as social enterprises and one contract has been awarded to an organisation identified as a social enterprise.

Youth Custody

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons aged 16 to 21 were released from custody other than from secure training centres and secure children's homes in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what percentage of those  (a) entered employment and  (b) returned to education or training upon release in each such year.

David Hanson: Data of this nature is only available by entire establishment type and it is not possible to separate out specific age groups.
	The National Offender Management Service did not start recording employment and education/training data separately until April 2007. The following table shows data for 2007-08 and for April 2008 to December 2008 (latest available figures(1)).
	(1) Data is provisional and subject to ongoing validation.
	Counting rules for discharge data changed in 2007-08 and are not comparable with previous years
	
		
			   Number of prisoners discharged( 1)  Percentage of prisoners discharged with employment  Percentage of prisoners discharged with education or training 
			   April 2007 to March 2008  April 2008 to December 2008  April 2007 to March 2008  April 2008 to December 2008  April 2007 to March 2008  April 2008 to December 2008 
			 Prisons holding  15 to 17-year-olds 3,028 2,185 5.2 5.4 54.9 53.1 
			 Prisons holding  18 to 20-year-olds 5,372 4,590 26.3 26.9 14.2 14.5 
			 Prisons holding both 15 to 17-year-olds and 18 to 20-year-olds 4,040 3,220 17.8 17.8 26.4 30.3 
			 (1) Exclude temporary releases or prisoners that are deported upon release.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of staff in child care settings have achieved GCSE English grade C or above.

Beverley Hughes: The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collects information about the qualifications held by all paid staff working for child care and early years providers. The questionnaire is designed to pick up only qualifications that were relevant to working with young people and children. Qualifications are grouped together in the levels that they have been accredited with by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Level 2 (intermediate level) refers to GCSE A*-C, Intermediate GNVQ, and Level 2 NVQ. Separate data for GCSE English A*-C is not available.
	Tables 1 and 2 show the proportion of all paid staff qualified to at least Level 2, by type of provision, for 2007.
	
		
			  Table 1: Staff qualified to at least Level 2 for all paid staff 
			   Percentage 
			 Full day care 88 
			 Full day care in children's centres 92 
			 Sessional 79 
			 After school clubs 75 
			 Holiday clubs 75 
			 Childminders 49 
			  Base: All paid childcare staff 2007. All childminders 2007. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Staff qualified to at least Level 2 for all paid staff 
			   Percentage 
			 Nursery schools 91 
			 Primary schools with nursery and reception classes 85 
			 Primary schools with reception but no nursery classes 82 
			  Base:  All paid early years staff 2007.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2009,  Official Report, column 837W, on children: protection, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 February 2009
	The letter has been placed in the Libraries.
	 Letter from Beverley Hughes, dated 29 January 2009:
	 I have seen the final Annual Performance Assessment (APA) letter for Birmingham, which was published by Ofsted on 17 December 2008.
	I was very concerned to see that inspectors have identified a number of issues around safeguarding services for children and young people in Birmingham and judged the "Staying Safe" strand to be inadequate. I am also concerned that four out of five Serious Case Reviews have recently been judged to be inadequate by Ofsted.
	I recognise that you have taken a series of actions since April 2008 to address weaknesses in your children's social care service. I welcome that you have decided to personally chair a Task Force to address the weaknesses identified and to drive forward improvements in children's social care. I would like your Children's Services Adviser in the Government Office for the West Midlands, Kay Whyte-Bell, to be a member of this Task Force. She will report to me monthly on progress. I am also pleased that you are receiving support from your Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership to appoint an Assistant Director to your new management structure.
	However, given the critical importance of managing risks to children's safety and the need to ensure that progress is made swiftly and decisively, I have instructed my officials to work with Birmingham to provide a package of intervention support. This package will consist of:
	Bringing in an additional two interim Assistant Directors for your safeguarding service, as per your new management structure, through my Department's Children's Services Improvement Framework. The Department will contribute 50% of the costs towards these interim posts. GOWM will quality-assure the procurement process. I have also requested that they quality-assure the potential candidates for your Service Director post and your third Assistant Director post, for which you have received funding from your Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership.
	A small team of external consultants to conduct a root-and-branch review of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB) and provide recommendations on its operation and structure. This review will look closely at the organisation of Serious Case Reviews and whether changes need to be made to the handling of such cases. This team will also work with middle managers in your Duty and Assessment team and other front-line social care teams to develop performance management systems to ensure current work is on track and meeting requirements that will lead to the improvements necessary.
	Enhanced monitoring from GOWM. I understand the Children's Services Adviser and Social Care Specialist Support Manager are receiving fortnightly progress reports regarding your Serious Case Reviews and the Secretary of State's commission to review SCRs judged inadequate by Ofsted. I have asked for progress on SCRs to be included in the monthly reports that will be provided to me by the Children's Services Adviser.
	I am keen to see swift improvements in Birmingham and for children, young people and families to receive the service they deserve. 1 have decided therefore to underpin the improvement measures and progress I expect with an Improvement Notice. This will give Birmingham City Council twelve months to demonstrate robust and sustained progress, with a review after six months. Should improvement not be sufficient at either six or twelve months, I will need to consider the use of statutory powers to direct a solution. 1 am sure you will understand the necessity of this course of action, given we are dealing with safeguarding provision for vulnerable children and young people. My officials will be in touch shortly to discuss a draft Improvement Notice before I formally issue the Notice to the Council.
	I know that we share a commitment to delivering improved outcomes for Birmingham's children and young people. It is vital now that we work together in order to achieve that goal.
	I am copying this letter to Councillor Les Lawrence (Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families), Stephen Hughes (Chief executive) and the Director of Children's Services (Tony Howell). A copy will also be circulated to local MPs.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Telephone Services

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the merits of establishing a dedicated telephone line for hon. Members to call regarding the education maintenance allowance.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, has given no consideration to establishing a dedicated telephone line for hon. Members to call regarding issues with the education maintenance allowance. issues that are raised directly with the Department for Children, Schools and Families by hon. Members are referred to the Learning and Skills Council. The Learning and Skills Council has operational responsibility for the education maintenance allowance.

Schools: Inspections

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many legal cases have been brought against Ofsted in relation to inspections it has conducted of  (a) secondary schools,  (b) primary schools and  (c) nursery schools;
	(2)  how many legal cases have been won by nursery schools against Ofsted in relation to inspections undertaken by Ofsted;
	(3)  how many out-of-court settlements Ofsted has made with nursery schools in relation to legal claims brought by such schools against Ofsted in relation to inspections;
	(4)  how many nursery school inspectors have been made redundant by Ofsted since June 2007;
	(5)  what procedures apply to the retention by Ofsted of documents which it holds relating to the inspection of a nursery school after the inspection has taken place;
	(6)  what procedures govern the placing by Ofsted of its reports on a nursery school on its website in circumstances where the school has made a formal complaint about the inspection; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: These are matters for Ofsted. The Chief Inspector, Christine Gilberts, has written to the hon. Member and copies of her replies have been placed in the Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert , dated  28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response includes data relating both to maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	The current maintained school inspection framework took effect from September 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show no instances of legal cases brought against Ofsted for secondary, primary or nursery schools inspected under the school inspection framework.
	The previous inspection arrangements for childcare took effect from 1 April 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show one legal challenge brought by a registered nursery against Ofsted that was directly related to a scheduled inspection.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert , dated  28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of 'childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response includes data relating both to maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	The current maintained school inspection framework took effect from September 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show no instances of legal cases being won against Ofsted for secondary, primary or nursery schools inspected under the school inspection framework.
	The previous inspection arrangements for childcare took effect from 1 April 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show no instances of legal cases being won by a registered nursery against Ofsted that was directly related to a scheduled inspection. The single legal case brought against Ofsted in relation to the inspection of a registered nursery resulted in a consent order agreed between both parties.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	  Letter from Christine Gilbert , dated  28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of 'childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response includes data relating both to maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	The current maintained school inspection framework took effect from September 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show no instances of out-of-court settlements against Ofsted for secondary, primary or nursery schools inspected under the school inspection framework.
	The previous inspection arrangements for childcare took effect from 1 April 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show one instance of a legal cases brought by a registered nursery against Ofsted's inspection activity that led to an out-of-court settlement, or consent order.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert ,  dated 28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of 'childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response relates to inspection of both maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	No inspectors that might inspect either maintained nursery schools or other nursery provision have been made redundant by Ofsted since June 2007.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert , dated  28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of 'childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response relates to inspection of both maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	The two most recent reports of the inspections of maintained nursery schools inspected under the current inspection framework are published on Ofsted's website. Earlier reports are retained within Ofsted's internal database as public documents. Other documents relating to these inspections are retained by Ofsted for a period of three months following the inspection. Where a complaint has been made about an inspection, documents are retained until three months after the complaint has been closed, provided that no further complaint is received.
	The most recent inspection report relating to childcare providers is published on Ofsted's website. Earlier reports are retained within Ofsted's internal database as public documents. Other documents relating to the inspection of childcare providers are retained by Ofsted for a period of six months after the inspection report is published. Where a complaint has been made about an inspection, the evidence base is retained until six months after the case is resolved or any appeal period has passed.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	  Letter from Christine Gilbert , dated  28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of 'childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response relates to inspection of both maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	Ofsted would not normally delay the publication of an inspection report of any maintained school or other nursery provision when a formal complaint has been received about the inspection. If, having considered the complaint, Ofsted believes that the evidence gathered during the inspection does not support the judgments reached, it will declare the inspection 'null and void' and carry out a re-inspection. In such cases, the original inspection report is removed from the website and replaced. These instances are rare.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Teachers: Qualifications

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers of  (a) physics,  (b) biology,  (c) chemistry,  (d) mathematics,  (e) history and (f) foreign languages did not hold a degree-level qualification in that subject in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Information on the number of secondary school teachers in maintained schools in England, their qualifications and the subjects they are teaching is collected in the Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS). The most recent survey was carried out in February 2007; this is an occasional survey that does not provide a full time series.
	The 2007 SSCSS survey estimated the following number of teachers teaching at least one period a week of the requested subjects, and the proportions holding different levels of qualifications:
	
		
			  Highest post A-level qualifications held by full-time equivalent teachers in the subjects( 2)  they taught to year groups 7 to 13 in 2007 
			   N umber  of teachers  Degree( 3)  BEd  PGCE  Cert Ed  Other qual.  No qual.  Percentage  without a degree, Bed or PGCE( 4) 
			 Mathematics 30,800 47 9 14 2 3 25 30 
			 Biology 8,900 85 5 4 1 1 4 6 
			 Chemistry 8,000 83 4 7 1 1 4 5 
			 Physics 7,300 72 6 8 1 2 10 13 
			 History 15,700 64 5 6 1 1 24 26 
			  
			  Foreign Languages: 
			 French 14,900 57 5 10 3 2 23 28 
			 German 6,600 61 2 7 1 2 28 30 
			 Spanish 5,200 50 1 10 — — 40 40 
			 Other modern languages 2,100 25 — 6 — — 69 69 
			 (1) Where a teacher had more than one post A level qualification in the same subject, the qualification level was determined by the highest level reading from left (Degree) to right (Other Qual.). For example, teachers show n under PGCE had a PGCE but not a degree or BEd in the subject, while those with a PGCE and a degree were shown only under Degree. (2) Teachers are counted once against each subject which they are teaching. (3) Includes higher degrees but excludes BEds. (4) Totals may not sum to components due to rounding.  Note: Number of teachers are rounded to the nearest hundred the nearest 100.  Source: Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey 2007 
		
	
	The full SSCSS report can be found at the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RR026.pdf

Broadband

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to increase access to broadband for  (a) lower income households with children of school age,  (b) pensioner households and  (c) people with a disability.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 22 January 2009
	 I have been asked to reply.
	The Prime Minister appointed the Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Murphy) as Minister for Digital Inclusion last year because the Government recognise this as a very important challenge facing the UK.
	Since taking on the role, the Digital Inclusion Minister has formed a dedicated Cabinet committee—MISC 34, he has established a cross-government coordination unit, and Government have engaged a wide range of stakeholders in developing the cross-government report "Delivering Digital Inclusion—An Action plan for Consultation"
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/deliveringdigitalinclusion
	in order to have a coherent and concerted drive to address digital inclusion and increase access to broadband/digital technologies for  (a) lower income households with children  (b) pensioners households  (c) people with disabilities.
	The action plan details over 70 Government actions taking place to advance digital inclusion and future actions being considered by Government to facilitate access and skills to digital technologies for disadvantaged groups and individuals in The annex:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/digitalinclusionannex
	of the report. The consultation was launched on 27 October 2008 and was meant to close on 19 January but has been extended to 26 January at the request of stakeholders. Government are currently analysing responses to inform further progress.
	Government are working with industry and Ofcom towards ensuring the right environment for the creation of innovative broadband content. We will set out guidance on broadband content procurement by the public sector, informed by an industry perspective. The Digital Britain report is looking at the issue of media literacy, future access to digital communications, availability of information, and the ability to interact with vast communities of people, regardless of location so the UK can remain a world leader in digital services. An interim report will be published in late January, early February which will lay out the road of travel. A full report will be published in the summer 2009.

Bankruptcy: Cambridgeshire

James Paice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many businesses in Cambridgeshire were declared bankrupt in each of the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: Self-employed traders may be declared bankrupt (or enter into an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA)), however, registered companies are the subject of liquidation (compulsory liquidation or creditors voluntary liquidation (CVL)).
	It is not currently possible, from information held centrally in electronic format, to count the number of insolvent companies in Cambridgeshire. However the following table shows the number of self employed bankrupts in each month of 2007 (the latest for which information is currently available for Cambridgeshire), derived from postcodes provided by bankrupt individuals(1,2).
	
		
			  Cambridgeshire self employed bankrupts in 2007 
			   Number 
			 January 7 
			 February 9 
			 March 10 
			 April 3 
			 May 2 
			 June 7 
			 July 5 
			 August 3 
			 September 5 
			 October 0 
			 November 7 
			 December 5 
			 (1) Classifying bankrupts into administrative geographies is done using the postcode that the bankrupt individual provides. The use of this in assigning an individual to a borough is thus only as reliable as the postcode information provided. (2) In particular, inaccurate or missing postcodes mean that the numbers in the above table will be subject to an element of missing data. Nationally, this proportion has been decreasing from about 12 per cent. in 2000 to less than 4 per cent. in 2007. 
		
	
	Similar information is not available for individual voluntary arrangements entered into by the self-employed.

Broadband

Nigel Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the economy of nationwide access to high-speed broadband.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 28 January 2009
	As part of the Digital Britain report the Department has made interim assessments of the likely effects on the economy of nationwide access to high-speed broadband by reviewing the range of reports and analysis available on this subject.
	I recognise the potential importance high-speed broadband and its potential to positively affect the UK's competitiveness. The Government believe that investment in new broadband networks opens the way to a whole range of job opportunities, both during and post construction of the new networks. The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) estimates that universal super-fast broadband in the UK could directly create 600,000 new ICT jobs and add £18 billion to GDP over four years with even larger indirect benefit. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation published a similar study of the impact investment in network infrastructures could have in the USA.
	It is important therefore for the Government, under the Digital Britain Report to examine the impact of network improvements can have on the UK's employment and competitiveness in the digital economy.

Mobile Phones: Contracts

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the cost to UK consumers of  (a) maintaining the current mobile termination rate regime and  (b) introducing the new rates proposed by the European Commission.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 22 January 2009
	Mobile termination rates are regulated by Ofcom and the benefit to consumers has a central place in reaching decisions on the appropriate rates. The Commission have issued a draft. Recommendation for consultation and Ofcom and other European regulators are in discussion with the Commission about the approach taken. If the recommendation is issued, Ofcom will take the utmost account of the recommendation.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the support package for the automotive industry includes elements of support for the development of  (a) plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and  (b) vehicle to grid smart charging technology.

Ian Pearson: The package I announced on 27 January 2009 will provide loan guarantees to Britain's automotive manufacturers and large suppliers to support investment in low carbon plant and research and development. The criteria of the schemes need to be agreed with the European Commission and, however it is intended that projects could include support for the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
	On 15 January 2009, Secretary of State for Transport announced £250 million funding to encourage consumers to buy ultra-low carbon cars and electric vehicles and targeted support for electric vehicle charging infrastructure provision. In addition, the Department for Transport's £20 million public procurement programme will help demonstrate lower carbon and all-electric vans and the Technology Strategy Board's £10 million competition will showcase ultra low carbon cars.

Redundancy

Theresa May: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many notifications his Department and its predecessor received of businesses making redundancies of 20 employees or more in each  (a) year since 1997 and  (b) month of the last two years for which figures are available, broken down by (i) region, (ii) local authority and (iii) parliamentary constituency.

Patrick McFadden: Employers who propose to make 20 or more redundancies at one establishment are required to notify the Secretary Of State of the proposal under provisions contained in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Information on those notifications is only held from January 2006. I have detailed in the following table the number of notifications received for each month from January 2006 to December 2008. The records are not maintained in the format you have requested so I regret that I am unable to break them down by region, local authority areas, or parliamentary constituencies.
	
		
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 January 35,133 32,325 29,626 
			 February 32,038 21,205 19,875 
			 March 27,288 67,232 34,149 
			 April 21,635 18,055 30,222 
			 May 33,578 20,688 26,387 
			 June 23,950 26,919 18,720 
			 July 21,122 23,985 37,505 
			 August 27,971 62,960 18,177 
			 September 35,031 40,068 30,691 
			 October 26,247 33,360 42,829 
			 November 48,754 17,034 45,855 
			 December 19,248 36,434 69,660 
			 Total 351,995 400,265 403,696

Retail Trade: Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many retail enterprises were in operation in  (a) the area covered by Hambleton and Harrogate councils and  (b) Yorkshire in each of the last 10 years.

Ian Pearson: Statistical data relating solely to retail enterprises is not available at regional or district level. The estimated number of businesses in Standard Industrial Classification Group G (wholesale, retail and repair) registered for VAT at the end of each calendar year in Hambleton, Harrogate and the Yorkshire and The Humber region is set out in the following table. 2007 is the latest year for which data is available.
	
		
			  VAT stocks at year end in SIC Group G (wholesale, retail and repair) 
			   Local authority district Hambleton  Local authority district Harrogate  Yorkshire and The Humber Region 
			 1998 720 1,420 33,035 
			 1999 735 1,415 32,750 
			 2000 735 1,410 32,555 
			 2001 735 1,400 32,135 
			 2002 735 1,385 31,905 
			 2003 745 1,390 32,290 
			 2004 750 1,390 32,570 
			 2005 765 1,430 32,980 
			 2006 780 1,455 33,150 
			 2007 800 1,480 33,445 
			  Note:  VAT figures do not give the complete picture of the number of businesses in the economy. Businesses operating below the VAT threshold are not automatically included, although some businesses do voluntarily register for VAT even though their turnover is below the threshold. It is estimated that at UK level 42 per cent. of businesses are registered for VAT.  Source:  Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register via NOMIS.

Wind Power: Steel

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the opportunities which exist for the manufacture of wind turbines from steel made in the United Kingdom; and whether he has made an assessment of the implications for the United Kingdom steel industry of an expanded capacity of the on and off-shore wind power industry.

Ian Pearson: The UK steel industry is a key supplier of steel to wind turbine sector. Corus has supplied steel to the renewable energy sector for a number of years, including for the production of onshore and offshore wind towers. The Government anticipate strengthening demand for steel from this sector as our policies place target an increased use of renewable energy sources alongside reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation.
	The UK has the largest potential wind energy in Europe and the technology for both onshore and offshore wind power is currently one of the most developed and cost effective of all renewable technologies. Coras has key customers through the supply chain—from the tower fabricators to the wind turbine manufacturers. Corus will continue to work with its key customers and the Government to identify opportunities to maximise the value that can be obtained from the sector for the UK.